Fellow new arrival Ferran Torres starts on the bench, which includes youngsters Liam Delap (17), Tommy Doyle (18) and Adrian Bernabe (19).
Zak Steffen is also on the bench for the first time tonight as back-up for Ederson.
TeamS:
City:
Ederson, Walker, Mendy, Ake, Stones, Fernandinho, Rodrigo, Foden, De Bruyne, Jesus, Sterling
Subs: Steffen, Torres, Mahrez, Otamendi, Delap, Doyle, Bernabe
Wolves starting XI:
Rui Patrício, Boly, Coady, Saïss, Traoré, Neves, João Moutinho, Marçal, Castelo Podence, Jiménez, Neto
City’s injury woes
City have been hit by a number of injuries and illness in the build-up to this game.
Bernardo and Oleks Zinchenko have both suffered muscle injuries in raining, while Eric Garcia (head wound) and Joao Cancelo has a foot problem.
With Ilkay Gundogan‘s positive COVID-19 test and Aymeric Laporte not yet fully match fit, it has caused plenty of disruption to Pep’s plans this evening.
Sergio Aguero could be missing for up to two months as he recovers from a knee injury.
Formation:
It’s tough to call what City’s formation will be ahead of kick-off.
Ake will start alongside John Stones in central defence, but whether Pep Guardiola decides on a five-man defence with skipper Fernandinho dropping back and Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy as wing-backs, remains to be seen.
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If that is the case, Rodrigo will sit in front of the defence with Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden likely to supply Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.
Jesus could drift out left and Foden on the right with Sterling as the central striker – lots of ifs and maybes – and we’ll have to wait until the game has started to figure out how we are set up.
Tough opener
There aren’t many tougher teams City could have opened the campaign against.
Wolves completed a Premier League double last season over City, winning 2-0 at the Etihad and 3-2 at Molineux and were one of the best sides to watch.
Nuno Espirito Santo allows his teams to play expressive, free-flowing football with a squad full of technically gifted players.
The key to both matches last term was the blistering performances by Adam Traore.
If he is employed as a wing-back this evening, that may lessen his threat – but when he is one his game, he is almost unstoppable.
Stats and facts
City can equal Aston Villa’s record of winning 10 consecutive opening fixtures to a top-flight season, set between 1891 and 1900.
Wolves were one of just two sides, along with Manchester United, to complete a Premier League double over Manchester City last season.
Wolves haven’t managed three straight top-flight victories against City since October 1961.
Wolves are unbeaten in their opening home league fixture in each of the past 10 seasons.
Last season, City lost seven of their 12 Premier League matches against the other teams who finished in the top seven of the table – something Pep Guardiola will be desperate to avoid this season.
City won the final five Premier League fixtures of last season by an aggregate score of 21-1.
